# probate

/ˈpɹoʊˌbeɪt/ (US) · /pɹˈəʊbeɪt/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/probate
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

the official process of proving that a dead person's will is real and legal. It also involves dealing with their money and property after they die.

For teachers: the legal process through which a testamentary document is authenticated and the estate of a deceased person is administered. Often used in the context of settling debts and distributing assets to beneficiaries.

## Examples

- The family is waiting for probate to be finished.
- After her father passed away, she had to apply for probate before she could sell his house.
- The executor of the estate spent several months navigating the complexities of probate, ensuring that all creditors were paid before the remaining inheritance was distributed among the heirs.

## Usage notes

- Often appears in the phrase 'grant of probate' or 'to go through probate'.

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